reunion part 1

Have you ever been to a family reunion of a family that wasn’t yours? I think weddings are a bit like that at times because the opposite party is inundated with new names, faces, and lots of history. Hopefully, my future husband will have a chance to meet most of my family, the key players at least including my most beautiful aunt, before getting the pop quiz of a life time.

However, I have experienced this phenomenon where no one is necessarily related.
It’s called church.

There’s a certain joy in entering a church a realizing that its people are well connected and loved by each other. There’s also a certain dread and awkwardness in being the new kid. Without wanting intending to newbies stick out like a sore thumb.
I’m attending a worship conference this week and just on the first day a gal mentioned how nice it was because it felt like a reunion. As a first time attendee, all I could do was smile. I’m sure that woman meant it in a nice way as if to say, “This is a great group and worth being a part of. Just wait, we’ll be calling you sister soon.” WOW…um thanks?

I’ve been trying to come up with solutions for both sides, a fix to the realities of these kinds of paradoxical events. Right at this moment, I have nothing profound. My eyes want to slam shut. But I’m hoping to come back to this thought after Day 2 of “Meet the Fam.”